LEWISTON – Rachel Desgroseilliers, executive director of Museum L-A, the Museum of Labor and Industry in the Bates Mill, will be the guest speaker at the upcoming meeting of La Survivance Franaise Tuesday, Sept. 13, at the Multi-Purpose Center on Birch Street. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at which time Desgroseillers will make her presentation.

She will speak on the efforts still being made to collect, preserve and exhibit the history and historical artifacts of life in the mills, the shoe shops and brick-making which chronicle L-A’s work history.

“It is essential for our community to preserve its heritage so that future generations can take pride and learn from the culture that produced some of the world’s finest manufactured products and created a strong family-centered community,” said Degroseilliers.

Desgroseilliers will touch upon the educational program being developed that will be made available to schools and community and which will help continue to build a strong bond between generations.

A partnership has been created between Bates College and its students and Museum L-A in chronicling these life events. She will present an update on the ongoing Oral History Project that is conducting in-depth interviews with mill workers from all aspects of work as well as the project of photographing those interviewed to develop a museum quality travel photo exhibit.

Finally, Desgroseilliers will present the plan showing the Consortium of Museums being developed that would bring 10 local nonprofits working together to further the preservation and exhibition of the history of Lewiston-Auburn. Desgroseilliers can be contacted at 240-6429.

Following Desgroseilliers’ presentation, Hlne Sylvain will conduct a sing-along in French. Lucille Hnault will serve as hostess.